In the wake of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, a surge of tourists began exiting Srinagar, triggering a sharp spike in outbound travel from the city. According to officials, 7,432 passengers departed from Srinagar International Airport on April 23 alone, taking 40 scheduled commercial flights between 6 AM and 5 PM.
The exodus began on April 22, just hours after the attack, with airlines reporting near full occupancy on all outbound flights. IndiGo, which operated 25 flights out of Srinagar that day, recorded a load factor between 92% and 100%. Air India Express flew 12 flights, all with 100% occupancy, while SpiceJet ran 8 flights with load factors ranging between 94% and 100%. Air India’s 4 flights and Akasa Air’s 2 flights were also completely full or nearly full, with load factors of 100% and 98% respectively.
Tourists and travelers have cited heightened security concerns and a tense atmosphere in the Kashmir Valley following the attack. Hotel cancellations and early check-outs have also been reported, as visitors look to return to their hometowns or continue their travel elsewhere.
Airlines have reportedly continued to operate regular schedules while coordinating closely with airport authorities to manage the increased volume and ensure passenger safety.
The tourism department and state officials have yet to issue formal advisories but are closely monitoring the situation.
